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(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

A H. A. BRUSTLEIN. PROCESS 0F HARDENING PROJBOTILES AND APPARATUS TEEREFDR.

No. 519,232. 'Patented May 1, 1894.'

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(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v. H. A. BRUSTLBIN. PROCESS OP HARDENING PROJEGTILBS AND APPARATUS THBRBFOR.

No. 519,232. Patented May 1, 18.94.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRI A. BRUSTLEIN,

OF UNIEUX, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF HARDENING PROJECTILES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,232, dated May 1, 1894.

Application filed December ZZ, 1893. Serial No. 4941467 (N0 1110de1|7 T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRI A. BEUSTLEIN, of Unieux, in the Department of the Loire, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hardening Projectiles and Apparatus Therefor, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

The object of this\inventi0n is to harden simultaneously but to different degrees of hardness the anterior portion of an armorpiercing projectile (including the point) and the posterior portion (that is the cylindrical part and the interior of the chamber). The anterior portion is subjected to a deeply penetrating and energetic hardening by means of a suitable liquid such as cold water or saline solutions, while the posterior part is subjected to a more moderate hardeningby means of a suitable liquid such as oil orluke-warm water.

The invention has for a further object to conduct this double operation in such a way that there may be a continuity of hardening, that is to say, so that there may be no untreated interval between the two portions thus subjected to Vsimultaneous but differential hardening, the operation being so conducted that the line between the two portions shall be strictly defined and predetermined.

To this end, the apparatus is divided into two compartments by a horizontal partition having a circular opening in which the projectile rests during the period of treatment and in which it acts as a plug or stopper, a portion being thus exposed above the partition to the action of one liquid and a portion beneath to the action of another. The apparatus is thus divided into two separate chambers which do not communicate when a projectile is in place. Into one of these chambers the liquid for energetic hardening (cold water, ttc.) is conducted under pressure by separateand independent conduits, and issues therefrom after having bathed the projectile. Into the'other chamber is introduced the liquid for the less energetic action, (oil, &c.) This liquid is received from an upper reservoir, traverses the apparatus, bathing the rear portion of the projectile and its chamber, and flows out into a lower reservoir or receptacle, whence it may be raised again by a pump to the upper reservoir, traversing on the way a l surface cooler.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated an apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention.

Figure I, is a central vertical section of the hardening apparatus, showing also other connected parts of the system. Fig. II is a plan view partly in section. Figs. III and IV are detail views illustrating the application of the invention to projectiles having flat ends. Fig. V is a detail view in vertical section of devices for partly supporting and counterbalancing heavy projectiles. Fig. VI is a crosssection of the vessel (shown in Fig. I) for separating the oil from the water.

The projectile o is shown in place, and supported in a circular opening of partition c. Above this partition the oil arrives from an upper reservoir by a conduit a, following the direction indicated by the arrows it rises around the projectile to the level of the line h, where through an overflow pipe d it is conducted to a lower reservoir. To accelerate the circulation of the oil in the interior of the chamber of the projectile where otherwise the liquid would be practically stagnant, an independent supply of oil is led to the said chamber by a movable pipe e. To the chamber beneath the partition c cold water under pressure is brought by the pipe f entering the chamber y, whence it is projected with force against the ogive of the projectile through small apertures g pierced in the wall g in the form of a spray. The water remains separated from the oil, and can be discharged either by tube h (upon opening valve la therein) or above by tube t'. The partition separating the water compartment from the oil compartment is composed of two concentric rings c q (Fig. III) the exterior ringo being a permanent part of the casing of the apparatus, and the second ringq being removably fitted to it. Ring q is made of copper or metal which is a better conductor of heat than steel. This disposition has for its object to prevent the interior ring, which is in contact with the incandescent projectile, from being heated and consequently to prevent the expansion and wedging in of the projectile, thus facilitating its ready removal after hardening. This ring may be changed for others having differentinternal diameters and thus allow the hardening, in the same apparatus of shells of different calibers.

An energetic hardening is insured to the zone of contact of the projectile with the ring because of the greater conductivity of the metal of which it is composed.

When very heavy projectiles are to be treated, their weight would produce too great a pressure upon the ring q, and cause it to deteriorate rapidly. To obviate this difficulty the apparatus has a special arrangement for partly counterbalancing the projectile.

When the projectile is placed in the apparatus its point rests in a ring m, supported by posts n which in turn are supported by a rod a passing loosely through the bottom of the apparatus. Rod a rests upon a lever p pivoted at p (see Fig. V) and having a stop w which limits its movement. This lever carries an adjustable weight fr, which counterbalances part of the weight of the projectile, thus relieving the copper ring qof the excessive pressure. The pressure should be such as to close hermetically the aperture in the partition. The spindle n is attached to the iexible diaphragm s which follows its movements While preventing leakage ot the water.

It may become necessary in some cases to harden projectiles with flat heads or to extend the extreme hardening of ogival projectiles to or beyond the cylindrical portion. In such cases it is necessary to provide a seat or bearing upon the projectile to rest in contact with ring q. I effect this in the operation of turning down the projectile upon the lathe by leaving at the line where the two zones unitea slight circular rim or projection as shown at t (Figs. III and IV), which during the hardening treatment will be seated upon the ring q and thus separate the two hardening liquids. This thin projection is afterward removed by alathe or emery grin der when the hardening is completed.

The operation is conducted as follows: Assume the projectile to have been heated to the proper temperature, and that the apparatus is empty. Valve k is opened, and water under pressure is allowed to enter by pipes f through the perforated casing g and to fill the entire lower part of the apparatus; but since valve 7c is open this water does not rise above the partition c. The projectile is then fitted into the partition, its ogive plunging into the water. At this moment valve 7c is closed and cock o opened, admitting the oil through pipe a. The oil will rise around the projectile until it reaches the level b, where it flows ed. Oil is at the same time introduced into the chamber of the projectile through pipe e, and valve la being closed the Water will rise in pipe 'i overflowing at a level such that the pressure of the oil above andthe water beneath the partition c q will be practically equal. This equilibrium of pressure reduces to a minimum the loss of oil, which may take place if the joints are not perfectly closed. W hen the projectile thus bathed is sufficiently cooled, cock fu is closed, arresting the flow of oil, and cock a: opened, discharging the oil into a suitable receptacle at a lower level. The oil being drawn olf, valve k is opened and projectile removed. Since the oil is rapidly heatedJ the pump 'P which raises it from the lower reservoir to the upper one forces it to traverse a cooling apparatus Q of ordinary construction, as shown in Fig. I. Vessel Q is providedwith an inlet y for cold water, and an outlet y through which the water discharges.

Since in a rapid succession of operations the oil adhering to the upper part of the apparatus has not the time to completely flow off, portions of it maybe carried 01T: with the water used in the succeeding operation. To avoid this loss of oil from this cause, the water may be passed by a reservoir of decantation It of a peculiar arrangement similar to the Florentine receiver, which is shown in Figs; I and VI. The water mixed with oil flows into vessel R from the discharge pipe of the hardening vessel. Just beneath the outlet of said pipe is a series of dish-shaped trays R which cause the mixed oil and water to pass back and forth, so that the stream enters the vessel quietly. The oil rises by virtue of its smaller specific gravity in the narrow neck S of the vessel and is drawn off by a discharge pipe S whence it is conveyed to the oil reservoir. The water is drawn off through a discharge pipe T connected with the lower part of the vessel, but which is carried upward a sufficient distance to cause the oil to rise to the level of its overflow pipe.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The process herein described of hardening the exterior surface of a projectile by ex posing dilferent portions of such exterior' surface simultaneously to the action of ditlfercnt hardening liquids, substantially as described.

2. The process herein described of differentially hardening the exterior surface projectiles by supporting the projectile upon the line of separation of the zones of diilerent hardness, and simultaneously bathing the portions above and beneath said partition with different hardening liquids, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for differentially hardening projectiles comprising a vessel having a horizontal partition with a circular opening into which a projectile may be fitted, and means for conveying hardening liquids to the compartments respectively above and beneath the partition, substantially as described.

fl. In an apparatus for differentially hardening projectiles, the combination with the partition dividing the vessel into two compartments, and having a circular aperture, of a ring or band of metal which is a good con- IOC ductor of heat, surrounding the aperture and forming a seat or bearing for the projectile during the hardening, said vessel being provided with means vfor supplying hardening vfluid substantially as described.

5. The combination with the vessel, having means for supplying hardening iiuid ot' a partition dividing said wheel horizontally into two compartments, having an aperture, and a removable bearing ring supported at the edge of said aperture, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the vessel, the horizontal partition having a circular opening to receive the projectile, supply and discharge pipes connected with the chamber above the partition, and similar pipes connected with the chamber beneath the partition, the discharge pipe of the lower chamber being carried to a level at or near the level of overflow of thel upper chamber for the purpose of equalizing the pressure, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the vessel having ahorizontal partition provided with a circular aperture for receiving the projectile, independent supply and discharge pipes for the compartments above and beneath the partition, and an additional pipe entering the upper compartment vertically for conveying liquid to the chamber of the projectile.

8. The combination of the vessel, provided with means for supplying hardening fluid the horizontal partition having a circular aperture upon the edge of which the projectile is adapted to rest during treatment, and means for partly counterbalancing the weight of the projectile, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for hardening projectiles provided with means for supplying hardening fluid, the combination with the perforated horizontal partition, of the ring or socket for receiving the point of the projectile in the chamber beneath the partition, said ring or socket being carried by a rod passing through the bottom of said chamber, a lever supporting the end of said pin, and a counterbalance weight on the end of said lever, substantially as described.

10. In the manufacture of projectiles the process of differentially hardening a projectile by forming around it a rim or projection, supporting it with the rim seated upon a horizontal partition so that the projectile has a portion exposed on each side thereof, and while so supported bathing the two zones divided by said rim or projection with different hardening liquids, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the hardening vessel, or apparatus and with pipes or conduits for conveying oil and water to different parts thereof, of a discharge pipe for the water, and an apparatus connected with said pipe for separating the oil that may be mixed with the water, said apparatus having a contracted portion into which the oil rises, an overiiow pipe for the oil, and an outlet pipe for the water connected with the lower part of the apparatus and carried upward to or beyond the level of the said overflow pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI A. BRUSTLEIN.

Witnesses:

MONNIOT, E. Mme-UE. 

